New Jersey’s highest court unanimously denied Governor Chris Christie’s request to put gay marriage on hold while the state’s appeal is heard, which means same-sex couples in the garden state will be able to get married starting on Monday.
Last month, a lower court judge ruled that the state must allow same-sex couples to marry, saying that not doing so deprives them of rights that were guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. The rotund governor had requested the court freeze the state judge’s ruling until the top court hears the case in January and issues a final decision.
Unfortunately for him, the justices ruled yesterday that “the public interest does not favor a stay” and that the state has “not shown a reasonable probability it will succeed on the merits” of the case.
Christie has favored civil unions, which New Jersey began offering in 2007, but he opposes gay marriage.
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New Jersey is now the 14th state where same-sex marriage is legal.
A spokesperson for Christie has said that the governor will abide by the court’s ruling, even though he said the other day that if he had a gay child, he would tell the child that marriage is between a man and a woman.
hyhybt
not shown a reasonable probability it will succeed on the merits”
Beautiful words.
Charles175
Once again, no defense for the indefensible. Let equality for all roll on!!!
CaptainFabulous
“WHERE IS MY $5 FOOTLONG?!?!?!? CHRISTIE HUNGRY!!!”
gaym50ish
When Christie vetoed the marriage-equality legislation in New Jersey, he said he wanted to put the matter to a vote of the people via a referendum. The last time the referendum process was used in New Jersey was in 1915, when the all-male electorate voted to deny women the right to vote.
That seems to illustrate pretty clearly why matters of civil rights should not be subject to popular vote. In this case I think marriage equality would win, but the judicial review is the right way to go.
On the other hand, it would be nice to see NOM and other anti-gay groups squander many more millions of dollars in a fight they ultimately cannot win.
BJ McFrisky
Wow, Queerty. Just wow.
Christie lost his battle, but you—along with some commenters—have to spike the football with weight slurs? Really? Grossly unprofessional, not to mention downright nasty.
the other Greg
@BJ McFrisky: “along with some commenters”
Yeah, we knew you would pipe up, but only ONE commenter so far has done that. That’s not “some.” What’s your obsession with this, BJ, are you a porker?
@gaym50ish: It seems to me the women’s suffrage fight is a reason not to worry – in the long run – about this issue eventually winning. People like you often say that “matters of civil rights should not be subject to popular vote,” but unless you’ve been appointed to the Supreme Court and we didn’t hear about it yet, that’s just your opinion.
At least gay people aren’t prohibited from voting in these things! Women weren’t even allowed to vote in them and had to make their case to all-male electorates (often winning), and to all-male state legislatures voting on the constitutional amendment, which ultimately passed.
2eo
I did a little searching and I found the best picture of Christie to illustrate how he’s feeling right now.
http://bit.ly/Yr5LoH
CaptainFabulous
@the other Greg: Thing is, gaym50ish is right. The reason guys like Christie and his pals push for a voter referendum is because they know history has shown over and over again that the majority NEVER willingly gives equal rights to the minority. It simply does not happen. It didn’t happen with women, it didn’t happen with blacks, it hasn’t yet happened to immigrants, and it won’t happen with us.
The general populace are not particularly knowledgeable Constitutional scholars either, and are much more likely to pass laws that are blatantly discriminatory and unconstitutional, which is of course what they count on. Then factor in that they have nearly unlimited amounts of money to push their agenda (like the way the Mormon church funded Prop 8) and it’s virtually guaranteed that the popular vote would keep us and others denied our rights till the end of time.
BJ McFrisky
@the other Greg: No, I’m not a porker . . . nor am I a fattist, judging people based on their bodies or other weaknesses. I guess I’m just a decent human being in that regard.
(And the “some commenters” wasn’t referring specifically to this story—look at any piece on this site about Christie and you’re going to find countless insults aimed at his weight. Sorry, but resorting to calling someone names is a child’s argument. I’ll stick to dealing with the grown-ups.)
Caleb in SC
Christie is just another in a long list of cray-cray Republicans who want to run for president in 2016. He doesn’t stand a chance in hell. Go, Hillary!!!
jwrappaport
@2eo: Koose bu lickmoomoo tah Christie. Ohohohoho.
CaptainFabulous
@BJ McFrisky: If he doesn’t have enough self-respect and control to foster his own health and well being what makes anyone think he’s in a position to make decisions that are good for other people???
He’s a clown that simply regurgitates the same tired old GOP bullet points, half-truths, and fallacious buzzwords. Him being the size of hippo is just icing on the cake, because it makes him that much more ridiculous and difficult to take seriously.
If he wants to be treated with respect and dignity and not constantly the butt of fat jokes maybe he should treat others with the respect and dignity they deserve, and not constantly try to deny us our rights, disenfranchise the poor, and crush the middle class.
badtungsten
@CaptainFabulous: How about we criticize Christie for his political positions and not for his weight? Calling him a porker, Christie Creme, or anything else that makes light of his obesity is just plain wrong. We gays are often stereotyped as shallow people. Let’s not prove the stereotypes right!
The fact is that Christie can no longer stand in the way of equal marriage in New Jersey. How about we focus on those 30+ states with constitutional amendments banning equality? That seems like a much more prudent use of our time.
And to BJ McFrisky: Being obese isn’t always a matter of will power and self-dignity. There is an awful lot of science out there pointing to the biological and environmental factors that play a part in why people become obese. Educate yourself, please. We ask that heterosexuals not judge us for what many of them consider to be an illness or deficiency in character. Perhaps you should do the same in regard to obesity. Things are hardly ever as simple as they appear.
Matte
@badtungsten:
Thank you.
Stefano
@Badtungsten : you are right.
BJ McFrisky
@badtungsten: Um, I don’t think you quite grasped the gist of my statement. I was defending the overweight against others for judging them on their appearance, not belittling them as have many on this site.
Educate yourself, please.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
Hey look everybody!! Here is a story on how an anti-gay bigot, trying to deny gays civil rights in his state just lost out in the State Supreme court meaning MARRIAGE IS LEGAL in that state!
And what does BJ do? Just as I always say, he ALWAYS has a desperation to turn attention away from the anti-gay attitudes of any bigot, and either change the subject or turn the bigot into a victim.
So, BJ, just to clarify. Let’s ignore the bigotry and attack on civil rights of New Jersey gays, but we should all cry and feel sad that Chris Christie was described as “Rotund”.
Interesting that you feel this is far more important to discuss than the civil rights story. But then once again, you always need to take the side of the anti-gay bigot.
GlitterKidder
All this from a “pig” so fat he hasn’t seen his own penis for 25 years! Thanks Porky
Stefano
@Cam : Can we discuss of what bigots said instead of making fun of them because they are fat, or ugly, or old or effeminate or look like a gay or look like a lesbian, or have no legs, or have only one eye, funny ears, etc. ? Come on! Are we all shallow people ?
the other Greg
@CaptainFabulous: “the majority NEVER willingly gives equal rights to the minority. It simply does not happen.”
No – it happened in FOUR states in the 2012 election. You really should keep up with the news more! And the polls.
If a referendum on s/s marriage were to happen in New Jersey it would, of course, pass, so we have nothing to worry about there.
If anyone thinks “civil rights should never be voted on,” well your opinion and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. But the historical record does not support you.
@BJ McFrisky: I must say in fairness that for all of Christie’s many, many, MANY faults, he is actually quite self-deprecating about his weight, and is pretty good-humored about fat jokes. This is notable because he’s such an a-hole about literally everything else.
You worry about this subject way more than he does.
the other Greg
I commend Captain Fabulous for, at least, reading (if not understanding) a news article that is not about butt-fucking without a condom.
And I wish that BJ, instead of always whining about how *liberals are bad and hypocritical because…*, would tell us just once what he is actually FOR.
BJ McFrisky
@the other Greg:
You know, in all seriousness, now that I think about it, perhaps I have been somewhat ambiguous as to my personal points-of-view, thereby coming across as nothing more than a shallow whiner at times, so allow me to clarify:
Re: gay marriage:
I believe we should all have the right to marry, and we all will in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, however, the cause is not helped by many of the examples I’ve seen set by us. (example: Even my liberal friends thought the Chick-fil-A fiasco was a ridiculous grasp for attention by us, hence my opinion that it was a bad idea.)
Re: politics:
Contrary to popular belief, I’m not a Republican, but I hate the way the Democrats have become the Party of Santa Claus, bringing free treats to all the good lemmings who vote for them. Under Obama, food stamp use has skyrocketed an astounding 70%, the unemployed are assured they can take a 2-year paid vacation if they want (on our dime), young people are told they can be dependent until they’re 26, etc etc etc. In other words, Democrats are actively attempting to make us all dependent on government. I own a business and pay mega-taxes (California, don’tcha know), so I can’t go along with that. Nobody should get a free ride, not at the expense of others, political correctness be damned.
Re: rumors of my heterosexuality have been greatly exaggerated.
I’ve been in a relationship with the same guy since ’97, so I don’t know why people keep accusing me of being not gay (as I frequently say when observing the drama that women bring to their relationships, ‘I spent the first half of my life cursing nature for making me gay, and the second half thanking it’).
I don’t expect you to agree or disagree, just respect my opinions.
hyhybt
@BJ McFrisky: why do you presume that food stamp usage is up means thr government is giving it out too freely?
gaym50ish
First, I think that food-stamp use has more to do with the recession than having a Democratic president. But I agree that too many people used the extension of unemployment compensation from six months to two years to simply sit around while getting paid. Studies have shown that most people are working again a short time after their unemployment benefits expire, whether they expire after six months or two years.
As for the Chick-fil-A “fiasco,” whether we like it or not, boycotting has become one of the weapons of choice on both sides of the culture war over gay rights. And our side usually wins. When people lined up to buy from Chick-fil-A, it seemed to buoy the homophobes into thinking they had won that one, but Chick-fil-A’s BrandIndex rating of consumer perception plummeted. The “One Million Moms” boycott of JC Penney and spokeswoman Ellen DeGeneres fizzled after the “million” reached only about 40,000. Compare that with about 3 million people who watch Ellen’s TV talk show every weekday. The One Million Moms mustered even fewer signatures in its “Dump Starbucks” campaign.
The Southern Baptists have tried without success to get their congregations to boycott Disney theme parks because they sponsor “gay days.” Boycotts against Ford, McDonald’s, Target, Kraft, Home Depot and others have failed, while the gay boycott brought about real changes at Coors. (Although the family foundation hasn’t changed in its support of anti-gay groups, the company has fallen all over itself to become gay-friendly.)
hyhybt
Disney *doesn’t* sponsor Gay Days, making that boycott even more pointless.
the other Greg
@BJ McFrisky: Wow! I’m pleasantly shocked at your response. Thank you!
You’ll be more effective if you keep it focused like that here, BJ. Yeah, those are legitimate points of view, whether or not I agree with them. I don’t think I was ever one who accused you of “being not gay” (did I? – really don’t think so but apologize if I did). You almost sound like a Massachusetts or Rhode Island Republican (& I mean that as a compliment). I agree with gaym50ish about Chick-fil-A and boycotts in general, and I’m tempted to argue food stamps, which are hardly Obama’s invention you know but… well, some other time. It’s a beautiful fall day and the Red Sox are going to the World Series.
BJ McFrisky
@the other Greg: Go Sox! (and thank you for your civility).
@hyhybt: Seriously—you think 70% is a normal increase? In five years? Especially now that people can use their EBT (food stamp) cards to withdraw cash at ATMs? In my opinion, a high percentage of these recipients are simply taking advantage of the Santa Claus Party being in charge. They’re cattle whose votes have been purchased (and if you don’t believe me, I challenge you to find a Democrat who wants to reign in EBT spending).
@gaym50ish: I understand a lot of people are very sensitive about the whole Chick-fil-A issue, so I’ll try to be respective . . .
The boycott was a knee-jerk reaction to an old religious guy who stated he believed marriage should be restricted to straight people (and let’s not forget that Obama & Hillary both stated the same thing until it became politically inconvenient). It wasn’t a big deal, but we boycotted his business purely in an attempt to hurt him, that’s all it was, and people everywhere recognized the pettiness of that reaction. You can dance all around the BrandIndex numbers all you want, but it doesn’t change the reality of how we appear to the world when we overreact to something and someone so unimportant and meaningless as Dan Cathy and his opinions.
Rockery
@2eo:
That must be an old picture, he has put on weight since then
Ajai
Actually, Chick-Fil-A was boycotted because of monetary donations to anti-gay causes.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/chick-fil-a-profits-are-supporting-ugandas-kill-the-gays-bill/politics/2012/08/01/45430
Back to the subject at hand: Congratulations New Jersey, I’m so happy for you! Happy that your courts are smart enough to see that States have no vested interest in denying peoples rights and delaying or obstructing their pursuit of happiness. And your Republican Governor cannot stop it. Cheers! Hooray!
FStratford
Congratulations to New Jersey. This development means
#1) New Jersey will have gay marriage
#2) Bevause of #1, Christie will not become the Republican nominee for president
#3) The self-hating homosexuals will get oh-so-shockingly-mad and defend a bigoted republican who, if given the chance, will rather get rid of us all. And we will gleefully call them out on their stupid “logic”
Win, Win, Win!!!!
Now, on to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virgina so we can claim victory in the Mid-Atlantic!
Cam
I see that BJ has successfully changed the topic of this post away from a huge Civil Rights victory over to Christie being a victim and food stamps.
AngelicaCarter
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Ottoman
As Christie continues to invoke his imaginary biblical definition of traditional marriage–just last week during the debate he mentioned the “2000 year old definition of marriage”, his weight is fair game. His god commands that no one associate with a glutton. Yet there he is flouting the religion he demands others follow.
Cam
Christie backs down.
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/christie_withdraws_appeal_of_gay_marriage_ruling.html
2eo
@Cam: As spineless as his god.